Mbappe addresses minor ankle injury after France’s World Cup quarter-final victory
France advances to semi-finals
France secured their place in the World Cup semi-finals after a 2-0 victory over Morocco in Boston. The match saw goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele. This win marks another successful outing for Les Bleus, who have maintained a perfect record throughout the tournament.
The quarter-final clash, held on Thursday, demonstrated France’s dominance, as they outshot Morocco 21 to five. Their expected goals (xG) tally stood at 3.04 compared to Morocco’s 0.14, highlighting the clear difference in offensive output. Didier Deschamps’ side made only one change from their Round of 16 match against Paraguay, with Desire Doue starting on the left wing in place of Bradley Barcola.
Mbappe opened the scoring for France with a curled finish, bringing him level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, both having eight goals. He later assisted Dembele’s goal, setting up the second for France. Despite missing an earlier penalty, Mbappe’s performance earned him 13 points, making him a top scorer in the fantasy football rankings.
Other notable moments in the match included Dalot Upamecano missing an early chance, Doue being denied, and Lucas Digne hitting the crossbar. Michael Olise, playing centrally behind Mbappe, had a quieter game with only one key pass.
Mbappe’s injury concern and reassurance
A primary concern for France during the match was an injury to Kylian Mbappe, who left the pitch in the 76th minute. He was later seen with an ice pack on his foot or ankle. However, in a reassuring development, he was observed celebrating the victory with his teammates, jumping up and down.
After the match, Mbappe addressed the injury, stating, “I have a minor ankle injury, but I’m completely fine. Mateta was in a better position to play the remaining minutes of the match and was fitter at that moment. That’s all that happened.” This statement, relayed via The Athletic and FIFA, aimed to ease concerns regarding his condition.
Didier Deschamps also provided an update, confirming that Mbappe had “a slight pain in his ankle, but nothing serious,” according to Spanish outlet Cope. Mbappe had been substituted as a precaution, with Jean-Philippe Mateta coming on in the 78th minute. Television footage showed Mbappe on the bench with ice on his right foot, but he did not appear to be in extreme distress, waving to the crowd and high-fiving teammates as he walked off.
The Real Madrid forward has played full 90-minute matches against Senegal in the group stage and Paraguay in the Round of 16. Deschamps had previously given him precautionary rests in parts of games against Iraq, Norway, and Sweden. France will be hoping for Mbappe’s availability for their semi-final match.
France’s strong defensive record
While much attention has been given to France’s attacking prowess in this World Cup, their defensive solidity has also been a key factor in their success. Deschamps’ team has conceded only two goals throughout the tournament, against Norway and Senegal.
Their defensive performance has been particularly strong in the knockout phase, where they have allowed just 0.97 xG across three matches. Manu Kone, who has been instrumental in these defensive displays, was substituted shortly after France went 2-0 up, as he was one booking away from a suspension.
Morocco’s offensive efforts were largely contained by France’s defence. They struggled to create significant chances, managing their first shot on target in the 84th minute. Noussair Mazraoui, playing as a centre-half, conceded the penalty that Mbappe won. Yassine Bounou was a standout performer for Morocco, saving the penalty and making six saves during the match.
France is now set to face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals in Dallas on Tuesday, July 14.
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Source: fantasyfootballscout.co.uk
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
